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Deep Underground Science Laboratory: Pioneering Cross-Disciplinary Research

Learn about the groundbreaking science, infrastructure, and international collaboration behind the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). Supported by NSF, the project involves PI's from various fields conducting research from physics to microbiology. Discover the process, site selection, and major research questions in physics, astrophysics, and geoscience.

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Deep Underground Science Laboratory: Pioneering Cross-Disciplinary Research

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  1. Bernard Sadoulet Dept. of Physics /LBNL UC Berkeley UC Institute for Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (INPAC) The Deep Underground Science and Engineering LaboratorySite Independent Study 6 Principal Investigators B.Sadoulet, UC Berkeley (Astrophysics and Cosmology) Eugene Beier, U. of Pennsylvania (Particle Physics) Hamish Robertson, U. of Washington (Nuclear Physics) Charles Fairhurst, U. of Minnesota (Geology and Engineering) Tullis C. Onstott, Princeton (Geomicrobiology) James Tiedje, Michigan State (Microbiology) The process The science Infrastructure requirements The international context

  2. DUSEL Process Kimballton SNOlab WIPP Henderson Mine Homestake Soudan San Jacinto Cascades • • Proposal supported by all 8 sites • Approved by NSF (January 05) • PI’s went to Washington 28 February to 2 March • to clarify goals and time scale • Solicitation 1: Community wide study of • • Scientific roadmap: from Nuclear/Particle/Astro Physics to Geo Physics/Chemistry/Microbiology/Engineering • • Generic infrastructure requirements • Solicitation 2 : Preselection of ≈3 sites • • 8 proposals submitted February 28. • • Panel late April. Decisions public by late June • Solicitation 3 • Selection of initial site(s) • MRE and Presidential Budget (09) -> 2011-2015 • Seewww.dusel.org

  3. Solicitation 1 Organization • 6 PI’s responsible for the study • in particular scientific quality/ objectivity • 14 working groups • Infrastructure requirements/management • Education and outreach • 2 consultation groups • • The site consultation group (Solicitation 2 sites) • • The initiative coordination group: major stakeholders (e.g. National Labs) • 3 workshops building on NUSL/NESS • Berkeley Aug 4-7 • Blacksburg Nov 12-13 • Boulder Jan 5-7 • Interim report April 22 before the Sol 2 panel meets • Working Groups/Sites: July 05=>Finalize content of report, • External review à la NRC • Rolling out workshop in Washington Early Fall 05 Printed report directed at generalists Agencies OMB/OSTP/Congress cf. Quantum Universe +Web based reports with technical facts for scientists and programs monitors

  4. Originality of the process • Community-wide Site Independent: Science driven! • Multidisciplinary from the start • Not only physics. astrophysics but Earth sciences, biology, engineering • Internal strategy inside NSF : interest many directorates ->MRE line • NSF=lead agency but involvement of other agencies:DOE (HEP/Nuclear, Basic Sciences) , NASA (Astrobiology), NIH, USGS + industry • Adaptive Strategy • This is an experimental science facility, not an observatory • Specifically adaptive strategy to take into account • The evolution of science • International environment ( available facilities -e.g. SNOLAB, MegaScience coord.) • Budgetary realities • Excavate as we go ≠LN Gran Sasso • Potentially multi-sites • Although some advantages of a single site in terms of technical infrastructure and visibility • not necessary provide we have a common management (multi-campus concept) • variety of rock type and geological history • closer to various universities (important for student involvement) • Modules that can be deployed independently (in time or space) • Decoupling of large detector from deep science • ($1B-$2B)= mega-science decision taken outside the physics community

  5. Rare ProcessPhysics needs low cosmic-ray rates

  6. Major Questions in Physics • What are the properties of the neutrinos? • Are neutrinos their own antiparticle? • 3rd generation of neutrinolessdouble beta decay. (250kg ->1 ton) • What is the remaining, and presently unknown, parametersof the neutrino mass matrix? q13 ? hierarchy of masses? CP symmetry? • Do protons decay? • Current theories ≈ within factor 100 of current limits • >factor 10 possible=> may allow a spectacular discovery! • Immediately related to • • the completion of our understanding of particle and nuclear physics • • the mystery of matter-antimatter asymmetry • Surprises very likely!

  7. Major Questions in Astrophysics • What is the nature of the dark matter in the universe? • e.g. weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) ? • Supersymmetry? Complementary to LHC/ ILC • . • What is the low-energy spectrum of neutrinos from the sun? • sun but also fundamental properties of neutrinos. • Neutrinos from Supernovae: • Long term enterprise for galactic SN! • Relic SN neutrinos • Local galaxies <-> Gravitational detectors + optical ≈ 1 day later • Underground accelerator (cf. Luna) • -> Nuclear cross sections important for astrophysics and cosmology • Follow on surprises and new ideas

  8. Geoscience: The Ever Changing Earth • Processes taking place in fractured rock masses • Cracks =>Dependence on the physical dimensions and time scale involved. • in situinvestigation of the Hydro-Thermal-Mechanical-Chemical-Biological (HTBCB) interactions at work • This understanding is critical for a number of problems of great scientific and societal importance • ground water flow • transport of foreign substances • energetic slip on faults and fractures. • Approach the conditions prevalent in the regions where earthquakes naturally occur • help us answer questions such as •  Earth crust and tectonic plates motions? •  Onset and propagation of seismic slip on a fault? • Prediction of earthquakes? Requires A deep laboratory, with long term access (>20yr) Which rock? Initially any kind would be interesting Eventually all types should be available internationally igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary (+salt)

  9. Subsurface Engineering Mastery of the rock What are the limits to large excavations at depth? • petroleum boreholes: 10km Ø 10cm • deepest mine shafts: 4km Ø 5m • DUSEL experimental areas: 10-60m at a depth between 1 and 3km Much experience will be gained through the instrumentation and long term monitoring of such cavities at DUSEL Technologies to modify rock characteristics e.g. in order to improve recovery: go beyond hydrofracture, role of biotechnologies Transparent Earth Can progress in geophysical sensing and computing methods be applied to make the earth “transparent”, i.e. to “see” real time processes ? Remote sensing methods tested/validated by mining back In particular, relationship between surface measurements and subsurface deformations and stresses: important for study of the solid Earth • Great societal impact •  Large underground constructions •  Groundwater flow, •  Ore /oil recovery methods and mining/boring technology •  Contaminant transport • Long-term isolation of hazardous and toxic wastes • Carbon sequestration and hydrocarbon storage underground (sedimentary rock)

  10. A recent breakthrough Cells/ml or Cells/g 107 101 103 105 0 1 2 Depth (km) 3 4 ? 5 S. African data + Onstott et al. 1998 6 Fig. 2 of Earthlab report

  11. Major Questions in Geomicrobiology • How does the interplay between biology and geology shape the subsurface? • Role of microbes in HTMCB • e.g. dissolution/secretions which may modify slipage or permeability • What fuels the deep biosphere? • Energy sources ("geogas": H2, CH4, etc.) ≠ photosynthesis? • How to sustain a livelihood in a hostile environment? • How deeply does life extend into the Earth? • What are the lower limit of the biosphere, imposed by temperature, pressure and energy restrictions? • => What fraction does subsurface life represents in the biosphere? • Need for long term access as deep as possible • Current technology requires horizontal probes (negative pressure to minimize contamination ) • Long term in situ observation and access to the walls • Deeper bores with remote observation modules

  12. Major Questions in Biology • What can we learn on evolution and genomics? • Isolated from the surface gene pool for very long periods of time. • Primitive life processes today? • How different? • How do they evolve? Phage? • The role of the underground in the life cycle • Did life on the earth's surface come from underground? • Has the subsurface acted as refuge? • What signs of subsurface life on Mars? • Is there dark life as we don't know it? • Unique biochemistry, e.g. non-nucleic acid based? Signatures? • Potential biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications! • A reservoir for unexpected and biotechnologically useful enzymes? • Same requirements as geomicrobiology • + sequencing and DNA/protein synthetic facilities

  13. Infrastructure Requirements • Adaptive strategy: Not necessarily at the same site! • Depth • Very Deep:≥6000 mwe • unique facility in the world for • physics, astrophysics • earth science • biology • easy access, long-term • cf. SNOLab • Very Large Caverns (1Mm3) • Deeper is better • Limits by rock, economics • Hopefully >2700mwe (Kamiokande) • Intermediate depths automatic • Rock type • Physics: irrelevant if “competent rock”, control Rn! • Earth Sciences: Any deep site will yield extremely important result • Eventually multiple rock types (at least internationally) • Pristine rock • Earth science/biology: not dewatered or destressed ≠ Physics • Absolutely pristine for ancient life/life not as we know it • No water contamination due to site exploration/construction or previous mining • Variety of physical scales, long time scales

  14. Infrastructure Requirements (2) • Distance from accelerators • Same Megaton detector for proton decay and neutrino long baseline • >1000km (1500-2500 km) for neutrinos super-beams @ 3 GeV • but new ideas in Europe (low energy beta beam @300MeV, 130km) • Access • Horizontal vs vertical: not a strong discriminator if large hoists • 24/7/365 desirable but experiments can be automatized (but IMB experience) • Guaranteed long term access important: 20-30 years • Easy personnel access (including casual and E&O) • Proximity to universities and airport desirable • Safety and specific requirements • Proactive, meeting or exceed codes, MSHA,OSHA • But potentially dangerous experiments: large cryogenic (Ar,He,Ne), fault slippage • If strong scientific motivation, commitment from laboratory to work out adequate safety procedures • Management • Scientific direction • Common management if several sites: multiple campuses • Private ownership: can be financially beneficial, but also bring restrictions • in particular long term guarantee, whole spectrum of science • Public ownership: restrictions from other activities

  15. Infrastructure Requirements:Preliminary Conclusion • Passionate discussions in the community. • Significant impact of sites characteristics and institutional arrangements on • Range and effectiveness of science • Capital investment • Operational expenses • Restrictions are not necessarily fatal • In our multi-site, adaptive approach, not necessary for a site to be able to meet all infrastructure requirements • Important criterium: Ability of the site to accommodate some frontier science • Some restrictions may be acceptable for a rapid deployment in a realistic budgetary environment

  16. Preliminary Modules (1)

  17. Preliminary Modules (2)

  18. International Aspects • International Science and Engineering ! • Not only in physics and astronomy • But also: geo sciences geo-microbiology is a new frontier • DEEP site • Our goal: A frontier facility, unique in the world • Depth >6000 m.w.e + intermediate depth • Full range of science • 24/7/365 easy access and long term guarantee 20-30 years • Expansion capacity and capability to accommodate specific requirements • We are well aware of • SNOLab approved (6000 m.w.e- INCO Mine). • Possibility of expansion at Modane ( 4700 m.w.e. - road tunnel) + Baksan • Strategic advantage of a premier DUSEL on U.S. Territory • Impact on research of U.S. unified institutional support • ≠ scattered and isolated effort as guests in other countries • Initiative capability of U.S. teams and attraction of exciting projects • Development of new technologies • Training of the next generation of scientists and engineers + E&O • A difficult task: estimate the worldwide demand in realistic scenarios • to put in perspective the likely limitations of SNOLab (in spite of INCO’s cooperation) • Intuition: This is the direction science goes • Chronic over-subscription of existing facilities • Likely positive feedback: availability will be a factor in the growth of community • We have to check!

  19. International Aspects (2) • Large Detector + Neutrino beam • $1-2B price tag => megascience • part of inter-regional governmental negotiations • Adaptive strategy • Decouple from Deep module • But a deep site may be a competitive advantage • Science is still evolving rapidly… • Get prepared • How can we accelerate the convergence in the U.S.? • Can we have the case ready at the time of the decision of the ILC? • ILC type process; Interregional coordination of R&D • Common CDR and TDR??

  20. Conclusions A very interesting process • Compelling science • Mutual discoveries of several communities • Emergence of an exciting set of roadmaps We are developing powerful arguments! Even at time of budgetary problems, important to launch new and exciting projects: DUSEL is an excellent candidate! Still difficult questions Realistic estimation of the demand How to take into account the unexpected? How to balance international partnerships and national interest?

  21. Science-Methods-Applications • Ever Changing Earth • Fundamental processes • Role of microbes • Tectonics/Seismology Applications Resource discovery and recovery Waste management Biotechnology Transparent Earth Remote Characterization Surface-> subsurface • Overlap is testimony of the richness of the field • Opportunity for multiple advocacy • NSF-DOE- Congress - Industry • Experts-other scientists- Public at large

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